Robillard testified it was highly probable that the handwriting in the excuse fields and deliver-to fields on dozens of absentee ballots was McDonough's

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Premo began by attacking Robillard's bill to Rensselaer County, which as of February 2012 amounted to $75,000, Robillard confirmed. The witness testified he had not sent in a bill for his services since then or for his trial time.

"So it has got to be over $100,000 by now, right?" Premo asked.

"I don't know," Robillard said. "But I am making money while you are talking, Mr. Premo."

"When Mr. Smith showed you the case did you say to him 'Wow, with the large number of documents in this case I can make a lot of money?'" Premo asked.

"That's total nonsense," Robillard replied laughing.

Testy exchanges between Premo and Pulver ensued as Premo attempted to impeach the witness' credibility by referring to past critiques of Robillard, a former FBI agent who owns Forensic Science Applications, and work by opponents who consider his field of expertise unscientific.

"I would like you to move along now and deal with issues regarding this case," Pulver told Premo after several objections by Special Prosecutor Trey Smith.

"Your honor, I have a right to examine his credibility," Premo said.

"I'm telling you to start cross-examining this case," Pulver replied.

"Well, if that's what you want, I might as well sit down right now and end my cross," Premo said, throwing his hands in the air.

The jury was dismissed and Pulver informed Premo he would be sustaining prosecution objections to his line of questioning.

Once the jury returned, Premo pressed Robillard on his bias, referring to emails sent to him by Smith with his theory of the case including a copy of McDonough's indictment on 73 felony counts of forgery and possession of forged absentee ballots in the 2009 Working Families Party primary.

As he replied, Robillard turned and looked directly at jurors and not Premo, as he often did during the testimony.

"It goes to your bias only if you are biased, and I'm not biased," Robillard said.

During earlier direct examination, Smith used large display boards of writing samples produced from the evidence, and jurors leaned forward, intently looking at them while Robillard explained the forward tilted 'c's, rounded 'n's, unique cursive 'd's and pen drags he said were characteristic of McDonough's handwriting.